Diotimos Library · Journals, Notebooks & Fragments Collection · Bilingual Edition
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I
Complete Notebooks · French with an independent English translation.
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Facing Pages · Branch 3528 of 3781
[Malebranche.] · Entry 3528
French
p. 7055Les statuës. La nudité des jambes du Sévère habillé est messéante. Le Marc Aurèle nud est dégoûtant. Le Julien est vrai : il a bien la phisionomie du superstitieux, vain et pieux, presque hipocrite, l’air d’un homme qui a une mauvaise religion. Le sarcophage des muses et des néréides : tout cela est du plus mauvais faiseur, d’un sculpteur de paroisse et de cimetière. La muse de la philosophie s’entretenant avec Socrate : comme la muse de l’histoire s’entretient avec Homère dans le sarcophage des muses. L’Hermaphrodite est, quoi qu’ils en disent, trop grêle pour être voluptueux par ses contours. Il n’y a pas assés d’abondance; le nécessaire dans les chairs s’y trouve seul et le feu ne s’y montre pas.
The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I: [Malebranche.]
p. 7056The statues. The nakedness of the legs of the clothed Severus is unbecoming. The naked Marcus Aurelius is repellent. The Julian is true: he has indeed the countenance of a superstitious man, vain and pious, almost hypocritical, the air of a man who has a bad religion. The sarcophagus of the muses and the nereids: all that is by the worst sort of maker, a sculptor of parish and cemetery. The muse of philosophy conversing with Socrates: as the muse of history converses with Homer in the sarcophagus of the muses. The Hermaphrodite is, whatever they say, too slender to be voluptuous in its contours. There is not enough abundance; only the necessary is found in the flesh, and fire does not show itself there.
Socrates
Reading The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, Volume I · [Malebranche.] · Entry 3528
Ask about a concept, passage, contradiction, or connection.
Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Joubert’s notebooks return to the work of thinking and writing, the demands of friendship, and questions of faith, beauty and conduct. This edition pairs the French with a new English translation, preserving the order of the chosen source and the unfinished character of its fragments. Dates and source references allow readers to follow a thought through time or return to its printed context.
Historical Text and Translation
The French text follows André Beaunier’s 1938 edition of Les Carnets de Joseph Joubert, published by Gallimard from Joubert’s autograph manuscripts. Volume I presents the entries on printed pages 32–475. French and English are aligned paragraph by paragraph, retaining the source order, printed dates and page references so readers can return to the facsimile.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared this new English translation directly from the French, preserving Joubert’s distinctions, recurring images, ambiguities and unfinished thoughts. Translator’s notes clarify wording, references and uncertain readings: Essential keeps notes that help explain a passage, while All includes technical detail. Annotations from the 1938 source edition remain distinct from the new translator’s notes.
Rights
The linked facsimile records identify the French source as public domain in the United States. The new English translation and editorial notes are © 2026 Diotimos, with source annotations and new editorial contributions credited separately. This edition pairs the complete French notebooks with an independent English translation, preserving the distinction between Joubert’s text and its accompanying notes.